Effect of Housing System on Japanese Quail Performance

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of two different housing systems; floor pens vs. battery cages on productive traits in Japanese quail. Three hundred, one day old chicks were individually weighed and randomly divided into two equal experimental groups according to housing system (150 birds in each group), each group was randomly assigned to three replicates. Body weight, body weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and mortality rates were recorded weekly during the first experimental period. At the end of the growing period slaughter test was carried out to estimate carcass quality characteristics. Feed intake , feed conversion ratio and mortality rates were recorded. The dressed carcass, heart, liver, head and gizzard were weighed. The pooled weight of heart, liver, gizzard, and edible meat were designated as total edible meat (TEM). Using floor pens improved Gizzard weight, and gizzard percentage values compared to battery cages. Egg production, and egg quality traits, were estimated during the second experimental period. It was concluded that housing system had no significant effect on productive most traits of Japanese quails. Using floor pens improved gizzard weight, gizzard percentage, egg yolk weight and egg yolk percentage values of floor pen reared quails compared to battery cages. It was concluded that housing system had no significant effect on most of productive traits of Japanese quail